Two Sri Lankan study teams head to Harvard in a clear exercise of duplication
Sri Lanka is sending two separate teams to the world famous Harvard University to participate in one, single study course to kick off the country’s ambitious economic development track next month. However the tour by teams from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Finance Ministry ironically for the same 5-day programme, is raising serious questions on the cost and the need for two separate initiatives. The cost of the PM’s 7-member team is entirely borne by Harvard while the Finance Ministry is costing millions of rupees to the government in a clear and unnecessary exercise of duplication. The event is on February 7 to 12.
The move comes after the Harvard University’s active involvement in the recently-held Sri Lanka Economic Forum and the follow-up in which Harvard will be leading a local-cum-foreign team of experts to draft an economic plan for Sri Lanka. Ironically, the Business Times reliably learns, both sides – Prime Minister’s Office and the Finance Ministry – are unaware of the arrangements organized by the ‘other side’. “The PM’s office which has been directly handling the economic planning process and is the lead ministry in this sector is unaware of the Finance Ministry’s planned trip and participation and vice versa,” a senior government official said.
The PM’s Office is sending a high powered team to participate in this executive education programme at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government next month. Led by senior Minister Kabir Hashim, it includes Minister Chandima Weerakkody, Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce CEO Mangala Yapa, JB Securities Ltd CEO and economist Murtaza Jafferjee, Assistant Secretary, PM’s Office D.M. Madhushanka Dissanayake, and Central Bank staffer Ms. Menaka Jayawardene. This 5-day programme titled ‘Leading Economic Growth’ brings together leading experts in economic development with practitioners from around the globe to focus on practical approaches to shared growth and development.
The team of Finance ministry officials for the same programme (on the same dates) comprises Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Chandra Ekanayake and Director Generals of the Ministry – Priyantha Rathnayake, Chandrika Kulathilaka, Neil Ranjith Asoka Kalatuwage and R. Semasinghe. While the PM’s team is participating at no cost to the government, the six officials of the Finance Ministry cost US$ 7,400 each (Rs.1.06 million) course fee per participant. The Business Times reliably learns that Harvard University has already admitted the team of Finance Ministry officials following the payment of the total $44,400 (Rs.6.41 million) course fee.
The action taken by the Finance Ministry has created confusion and duplication of the government’s efforts to appoint a task force to prepare the proposed economic development plan, senior officials said. When contacted over the phone, Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne confirmed to the Business Times that he was one of the members of high powered Sri Lankan team but noted that he was unaware about the participation of the Finance Ministry team of officials at the same course. He said that this was one of the outcomes of the recently concluded economic summit which has been aimed at preparing a framework of a new economic development strategy for the island.
No comment was forthcoming from the Finance Ministry on the duplicated exercise while Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake was away in Davos, Switzerland as part of a team led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe attending the World Economic Forum which ended yesterday (Saturday).The Sri Lankan government is preparing a 3-year economic development plan with the assistance of a team of local economic experts, senior officials and Harvard University academics.
Ricardo Hausman, Professor of the Practice of Economic Development, who was keynote speaker at the Sri Lanka Economic Forum, is heading a team of experts attached to Harvard University to advise the government in their economic development strategy. Official sources said Harvard University had offered an opportunity for a high-powered Sri Lankan team to attend its programme which provides a framework for understanding economic growth as well as sophisticated tools for diagnosis and decision making.